Health Promotion and Maintenance Q 41
The nurse is conducting nutrition counseling for a patient with cholecystitis. Which of the following information is important to communicate?
A. The patient must maintain a low calorie diet.
B. The patient must maintain a high protein/low carbohydrate diet.
C. The patient should limit sweets and sugary drinks.
D. The patient should limit fatty foods.
Correct Answer: D. The patient should limit fatty foods.
Cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder, is most commonly caused by the presence of gallstones, which may block bile (necessary for fat absorption) from entering the intestines. Patients should decrease dietary fat by limiting foods like fatty meats, fried foods, and creamy desserts to avoid irritation of the gallbladder.
Option A: People who go on an extremely low-calorie diet are more likely to develop gallstones than people on a moderately low-calorie diet. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables is the best way to improve and protect the gallbladder’s health. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients and fiber, the latter of which is essential to a healthy gallbladder.
Option B: A low-fat diet with lean proteins is recommended for patients with cholecystitis. Foods with trans fats, like those in processed or commercially baked products, can also be harmful to gallbladder health.
Option C: Moderate consumption of sweet drinks can be allowed. Avoiding refined white foods, like white pasta, bread, and sugar, can protect the gallbladder. Eat whole-grain cereals, whole-grain bread, whole-grain crackers, brown rice, or whole-grain pasta. Avoid high-fat foods such as croissants, scones, biscuits, waffles, doughnuts, muffins, granola, and high-fat bread.